We live in a universe. The “uni” in universe refers to one, meaning there is just one universe. Universe is one of those enduring concepts of science that has remained unchanged for many years. Well, as is the case with most other seemingly infallible scientific theories (Newtonian mechanics and luminiferous ether come to mind), new evidence is challenging the age-old concept of a single universe.

Recent evidence suggests that there may be multiple universes. Some scientists believe that we live in a multiverse instead of a universe. To conceptualize a multiverse, think of a room full of floating bubbles. Each bubble contains a separate realm or universe. Sounds intriguing, eh? Well the multiverse theory gets even more fascinating when we consider possible relationships among those universes. Owing to discoveries in quantum mechanics, there is evidence to suggest that some universes may be parallel.The theory of parallel universes, developed by Hugh Everett in the early 1950s, posits that some universes are branch-offs of other universes. A parallel universe contains a reality similar to another universe; what differs between the two is that a single event turned out differently in one universe, at which point reality took a different course for that universe.

For example, in a universe parallel similar to our universe, there may be someone exactly like you living the life you now live with one exception – the “you” in the parallel universe won 3 million dollars on a game show. Or there is a parallel universe where everything is the same except that the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor did not happen, where the sunlight caused Lee Harvey Oswald to sneeze as he pulled the trigger and thus he missed President Kennedy, where Elvis Presley stayed thin and lived to a ripe old age, and where a lightning strike missed the inorganic soup in the primordial earth.

While I can probably accept the idea of multiverses, I cannot accept the notion of parallel universes. When viewed from the perspective of the grand master plan of the Lord (i.e., the Plan of Salvation), I don’t see how there could be a seemingly infinite number of people just like you and me living alternative realities based on different outcomes to events. However, there is intriguing evidence of parallel universes or alternate realities in the Doctrine and Covenants. It is the Manifesto on polygamy by Wilford Woodruff in Official Declaration I.

The Lord showed President Woodruff exactly what would happen if the Church did not stop polygamy. President Woodruff wrote:

The Lord showed me by vision and revelation exactly what would take place if we did not stop this practice. If we had not stopped it, you would have had no use for . . . any of the men in this temple at Logan; for all ordinances would be stopped throughout the land of Zion. Confusion would reign throughout Israel, and many men would be made prisoners. This trouble would have come upon the whole Church, and we should have been compelled to stop the practice.

This revelation is astonishing. The Lord did not suggest what might come to pass nor did He show Woodruff what might happen. The Lord showed him what would happen if polygamy did not stop. It is almost as if the Lord was giving President Woodruff a glimpse into a parallel reality where everything is the same except for the fact that in the parallel world, the practice of polygamy did not come to an end.

Could such a place really exist? I don’t think so. I think this revelation was made possible by the fact that the Lord knows all things, including the exact details of what might have been had we taken different paths in our lives. This is an amazing concept. His omniscience includes not only what has happened and what will happen, but what might have happened both in the past and the future!

Interesting idea. So did the President Woodruff of that parallel universe just not act on the inspiration or did another universe besides his own not exist and so no warning could come to him?

Reply

DavidH

12/28/2010 07:27:34 am

I think he was speaking of God's "middle knowledge," what would happen if certain suppositions were changed. http://www.theopedia.com/Molinism Of course, another way to put it, is that President Woodruff anticipated the theology behind "It's a Wonderful Life"!

That wasn't a revelation! Where is the text of the Lord's words? The last revelation (verbatim from God and written down) was the one given to Woodruff in 1889, telling him to make no more compromises, and the Lord would fight the Church's battles. Woodruff flouted that one, and could only get 3 of the other 14 apostles to endorse the Manifesto. Woodruff took a new plural wife in 1896.So much DISINFORMATION !!!

Reply

Dave C.

12/29/2010 06:03:47 am

Joseph,

"So did the President Woodruff of that parallel universe just not act on the inspiration or did another universe besides his own not exist and so no warning could come to him?"

Well Joseph (smiling), you are a better cosmologist than I. I would love to hear what you think, although we both agree that bantering back and forth on this issue is nothing more than speculative fun making :)

Anyway, I enjoyed your question. It is the sort of question that makes one explore the possibilities of a certain line of thinking. If the possibilities end up at rediculous conclusions, then perhpas that line of thinking is also rediculous, eh?

I think both scenarios are possible. Perhaps there was a disobedient Woodruff in a parallel universe who did not act on the inspiration. At the same time there may not have been any other disobedient Woodruff's at the time when the disobedient Woodruff received the inspiration which means that he could not have gotten a look at what would have happened if he disobeyed. Hmm? Can we therefore put all the blame on him? (laughing)Given the rediculous conclusion this line of thinking has taken me to, I declare that there are no parallel universes with multiple Woodruffs.

Reply

Dave C.

12/29/2010 06:05:51 am

DavidH,

"Of course, another way to put it, is that President Woodruff anticipated the theology behind "It's a Wonderful Life"!"

Cool! And appropriate for the Christmas season.

Reply

Dave C.

12/29/2010 06:10:11 am

Renn,

Perhaps you and I have different definitions of what comprises revelation. Moreover, WW called it a revelation, so given that he was a prophet of God, how could any latter-day saint dispute his claim?

Reply

c

12/29/2010 08:36:33 am

Renn,Whats section 134 doing in there since it also doesn't have a "thus saith the Lord" to it?The OD certain purports to come by revelation. I suppose it would have been nice for us of Pres. Woodruff would have expressed into words what the lord placed into his mind so we'd have the a text of the revelation he actually received.

Moses 1: 35-38 [emphasis mine]35 … For behold, there are many worlds that have passed away by the word of my power. And there are many that now stand, and innumerable are they unto man; but all things are numbered unto me, for they are mine and I know them.

36 And it came to pass that Moses spake unto the Lord, saying: … tell me concerning this earth, and the inhabitants thereof, and also the heavens, and then thy servant will be content.

37 And the Lord God spake unto Moses, saying: The heavens, they are many, and they cannot be numbered unto man; but they are numbered unto me, for they are mine.

38 And as one earth shall pass away, and the heavens thereof even so shall another come; and there is no end to my works, neither to my words.

Reply

Doug

1/4/2011 08:59:49 am

AAAHHHAAA I think you're on to something here. To you apologists, I propose new theories for all of the tougher issues like lack of BoM evidence. It ocurred in a parallel universe!!

Reply

Dave C.

1/4/2011 09:54:42 am

Doug,

"To you apologists, I propose new theories for all of the tougher issues like lack of BoM evidence. It ocurred in a parallel universe"

And yet a great outpouring of spiritual communication testifying of the truthfulness of the BofM happens numerous times each day in this quadrant of the universe.